Way off the beaten path

One block from the Jefferson stop on the L Train in the middle of Brooklyn, is a very obscure underground theatre called the Bushwick Starr. It is so obscure in fact that if you didn't know it was there, you wouldn't know it was there. This loft/theatre space was the setting for an extraordinary evening entitled March Madness Mealtime presented by Conni's Avant-Garde Restaurant.

If the term "avant-garde" scares you then you should definitely stay far away from Miss Conni and the cavalcade of eccentric characters that make up this "environmental dinner party." If you are brave and adventurous however, you will not be disappointed.

This modern macabre vaudevillian variety show is expertly performed by the fearless cast. With each installment the ensemble creates a new show based on a timely theme. The evening I attended was inspired by "March Madness" and explored the gray area between genius and insanity.

The evening includes a 5 course meal that begins with drinks and hors d'oeuvres while you mingle with your fellow audience members and your hosts. Each course is accompanied by an act; sometimes a scene, sometimes a song, a dance number or a dumb show. The meal is by no means gourmet cuisine, but it is filling and tasty. The vegetables in particular are quite good. Of course there is also alcohol which only enhances your enjoyment of the performance. Donations are encouraged for mixed drinks, but table wine is liberally poured and prescriptions for "gin-termission" were happily written by a wily doctor who wasn't wearing pants.

You will be surprised when the last bows are taken and you look down at your watch to realize that you have been there for nearly 4 hours. While the entertainment was sometimes dark and devious it was always performed with a sense of humor and a joyous spirit that will leave you engaged and invigorated.

Each table seats 8 to 10 guests. Somewhere between the green beans, the ballet and the second round of drinks, all the people at my table got to chatting. We introduced ourselves, laughed, discussed the show and afterwards continued our revelry by meeting for drinks at a neighborhood bar.

While they serve up both dinner and theatre, the performers make it very clear that this is not dinner theatre. House rules such as, "there is absolutely no ordering, but you may ask for seconds" and "referring to the performers as 'waiters' is insulting, don't do it" emphasize this point.

The $40 admission fee is well worth the experience that Miss Conni Convergence offers. The next restaurant is scheduled for May 2nd and 3rd. For updates and reservation information check out their website at www.avantgarderestaurant.com.

Insider Tips:

• Reserve your seats online in advance. Space is limited and the show sells out.


• Bring extra cash for mixed drinks.


• The show starts at 7pm and goes until 11pm. Be aware of your late-night travel options.